Ibrahima Konate is reportedly attracting interest from Real Madrid as his contract at Liverpool nears its end.
However, well-placed sources indicate that his priority remains renewing his deal at Anfield.
Liverpool journalist David Lynch, speaking to Sports Mole, relayed insights from “people close to Konate himself.”
Lynch explained: “At the moment, I still get the feeling that the priority is to renew with Liverpool.
“There are talks ongoing, but progress has stalled, which is a shame.
“However, I don’t think it’s reached a point of no return, and I don’t get the sense the player has definitively decided to move to Real Madrid.”
This comes after reports from Spanish newspaper MARCA claimed that Liverpool “suspect” Real Madrid have “already done the work they needed to do with the defender for next season.”
Having convinced Trent Alexander-Arnold to stay and complete his contract to secure a cut-price deal this summer, there is speculation that a similar situation could unfold if Konate’s talks continue to stall.
However, Lynch pointed out that the situation with Konate is different from Alexander-Arnold’s, as Ibrahima Konate is not “desperate to leave.”
“That possibility is definitely on the table,” Lynch said, “but we’re still at a stage where there’s hope of a breakthrough.
“The player is not desperate to leave Liverpool, nor is he desperate to go to Real Madrid. It’s not at that level yet.”
Lynch added that Liverpool will likely need to present a more attractive contract offer to the player, which has not happened so far.
Konate’s current salary is reportedly around £80,000 per week, while his representatives are seeking an increase closer to £200,000 per week.
Such a raise would place Konate among Liverpool’s top earners, a move many would argue he deserves, having just turned 26 in May and playing a key role in Arne Slot’s defence.
Liverpool’s future plans could also depend on other transfer targets.
The club are known to be pursuing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, whose contract also expires next summer.
Whether Guehi is considered a direct replacement for Konate or simply another quality addition to the centre-back options is unclear.
Nevertheless, Liverpool’s interest in Guehi may increase pressure on Konate as contract negotiations continue.
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